The Buccaneers edge rushing group is going to look a bit different in 2024 after the departure of Shaquil Barrett in free agency. One of the players hoping to help fill that role will be the team’s second-round draft selection this year, Alabama’s Chris Braswell. The first step towards that after the draft has been taken as Tampa Bay announces that Braswell has now signed his rookie contract.
Braswell decided to forgo his senior year of eligibility in Tuscaloosa after a breakout season for the Crimson Tide. Following the 22-year-old’s redshirt seasons, Braswell appeared in every game for Alabama the next two years but only mustered backup numbers with 34 total tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss, three sacks, and one forced fumble in both years combined. Last year, though, starting only two games in continued limited time, Braswell showed what he could contribute. He finished second on the team in sacks (8.0) and third in tackles for loss (10.5).
Braswell joins a youthful pass rusher group. 2021 first-round pick Joe Tryon-Shoyinka has been a starter in the group for the last two years. Last year’s third-round pick, YaYa Diaby, is expected to take a step forward in 2024 after leading the team with 7.5 sacks in his rookie season. Adding some veteran presence to the group is Randy Gregory, who split time with the Broncos and 49ers last year.
The Buccaneers pass rushing group failed to produce a player with double-digit sacks last year, though they presented an effective team rush, enough to finish seventh in the NFL is sacks as a team. If they plan on having their first double-digit-sack pass rusher since 2021, someone in the above group will need to break out.
With today’s signing, the team has now signed all but one of their first-round picks. Only first-round Duke center Graham Barton remains unsigned. Here are the others:
- Round 1, No. 26: Graham Barton (OL, Duke)
- Round 2, No. 57: Chris Braswell (EDGE, Alabama) (signed)
- Round 3, No. 89: Tykee Smith (S, Georgia) (signed)
- Round 3, No. 92 (from Lions): Jalen McMillan (WR, Washington) (signed)
- Round 4, No. 125: Bucky Irving (RB, Oregon) (signed)
- Round 6, No. 220: Elijah Klein (G, UTEP) (signed)
- Round 7, No. 246: Devin Culp (TE, Washington) (signed)